Zim opposition urges bravery against Mugabe

Zimbabwe's veteran president Robert Mugabe Picture: Mike Hutchings

Zimbabwe's veteran president Robert Mugabe Picture: Mike Hutchings

Published Oct 31, 2014

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Harare - Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Friday urged his supporters to be brave to confront long-ruling President Robert Mugabe to end the economic woes facing the southern African nation.

“We have to be brave, we have to take action,” Tsvangirai said in an address to his charges at the opening of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) elective congress in the capital Harare.

“We will mobilise and galvanise the nation for the endgame. The solution to the national crisis lies in none but ourselves. Surrender and capitulation to our fate will not help matters.”

The congress brings together party representatives from across the country is expected to elect new office bearers and forge a new plan to fight Mugabe.

Tsvangirai has in the past threated to lead street protests to press Mugabe's government for solutions to the economic slowdown in the country where unemployment is over 80 percent.

Tsvangirai lost to Mugabe last year but condemned the polls as a “sham” and “a massive fraud” accusing the veteran 90 year-old leader of rigging the elections.

Tsvangirai showed no signs that he is about to step down, despite party infighting.

“I'm forever ready to lead from the front these very troops gathered here today and all those across our nation,” he said.

He bemoaned the myriad of problems afflicting Zimbabwe including “lack of jobs, endemic power shortages, a declining economy, an acute liquidity crunch, a constitution that is not being implemented and declining social services, particularly health and education.”

The congress comes months after Tsvangirai parted ways with his erstwhile allies including former MDC secretary general Tendai Biti and deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma after they asked him to step down after he lost to Mugabe in the general elections last year.

Tsvangirai and Mugabe are former partners a unity government formed in 2009 after disputed and violent polls the previous year.

The violence killed over 300 MDC supporters with Tsvangirai blaming Mugabe's ZANU-PF supporters and state security agencies.

Sapa-AFP

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